R3 bids farewell and happy retirement to Gene Rathgeber with an office luncheon catered by Seasons 52, champagne toasts with tequila chasers, and heartwarming camaraderie.  Gene was with R3 for 8 years, initially joining as the Program Manager of the Navy EOD Leadership Continuum.  He helped grow R3’s contract presence in San Diego and Port Hueneme for Navy EOD and Underwater Construction Teams from one to 9 separate programs.  As such, he continued to accept greater positions of responsibility culminating as the Director of Operations and Security overseeing 6 portfolio managers, 28 contracts, and over 170 teammates performing at 14 different organizations.

He prepared Chris Merwin to assume this role before Gene segued to Strategic Advisor and Senior Mentor for his last year at R3 in transition to retirement.  Gene was a mentor to all, a tireless motivator, and a diligent boss who ensured all around him excelled and prospered.  He will be missed and, given the consummate leader he remains, Gene ensured R3 is well-postured to excel in his absence.  Fair winds and following seas to a leader, friend, and employee-owner!

R3, a leading provider of specialized training solutions, was recently awarded a prestigious $5.4 million contract to deliver professional training and readiness support for the Maritime Expeditionary Security Force (MESF). A geographically dispersed team of experts from diverse warfighting backgrounds will provide seasoned support to Maritime Expeditionary Security Group ONE and TWO and their respective Training and Evaluation Units for the next three years.

The R3 team will develop and deliver a variety of policy, process, and procedure documents the MESF will use to generate and sustain readiness for major combat operations.

Edan Antoine, R3’s Program Manager at R3, expressed his enthusiasm for this significant achievement, stating, “We are proud of the significant accomplishments the R3 team has made for the MESF. The project team has partnered with numerous bi-coastal working groups over the years to lead and solution complex and challenging initiatives focused on training and readiness. The team is energized to keep the momentum going for the next three as the MESF goes through dynamic Force Design changes within the active duty and reserve component units of action. R3 has been proud of the high level of engagements we have had with the MESF leadership and staff and is excited to continue our support for the next three years.”

R3’s continuous support to the MESF for the past seven years, during dynamic organizational changes from the Coastal Riverine Force to the MESF, solidified the award of this professional support services contract.

R3 was recently awarded a $938K, five-year, East Coast, Underwater Construction Team ONE (UCT-1), Table of Allowance (TOA) support contract.  R3 will provide support to the Readiness Officer in the management of UCT-1 TOA, providing Expeditionary Warfare Center-managed program support across all UCT mission areas, accounting, documentation, data entry, movement, receipt, and issue of equipment and material as well as providing SME, coordination of material efforts, and related technical services.  The work is accomplished at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek in Virginia Beach at UCT-1 and its subordinate commands and includes travel to various operating location deployment sites in the continental United States, Europe, and Spain.

For the past five years, R3’s Logistics TOA management and Technical Support staff have built a reputation of efficiency, thoroughness, and willingness to go the extra mile to enable UCT-1 global operations and high-intensity training.  Ben Lagueux, R3’s premier UCT-1, TOA Manager, said “The proposal caught us midstream of a major CASREP effort across three countries, Norfolk VA, and Gulfport Mississippi, and quickly became the antidote for what we do” “I am proud to continue support for the UCT community. We look forward to the challenges the new contract brings.  Finally, we are appreciative of our entire team of quality employees who make these selections possible and who have a long history of success supporting UCTs.”